The Power of Immigrants

One of the most depressing images in my ninety-four years of life is watching the illegal, immoral, and uncontrollable goon squads of ICE, masked and armed to the teeth, chase and take down people they consider immigrants, primarily because of the color of their skin or the place where they work.

Every time I see such a picture, I conjure up an image of the Gestapo in the 1930s and ’40s chasing Jewish people, Gypsies, disabled people, and gay people.

It is depressing because it marks the end of a democracy in which I have lived my whole life and the start of an autocracy, a reign of brute force carried out by bullies, including members of Congress and leaders in our country, who seem able to do anything they want to anyone they want.

I’m convinced it’s all part of a movement to Make America All White (MAAW), and I have no interest in an all-White country. I love the diversity of the United States and its cultures, religions, races, and colors.

I believe the heart of a strong democracy must be a steady flow of new immigrants entering our country legally. We have a constant need for an influx of people with new ideas, new ways of doing things, and new energy that many of us lack as we take our great country for granted.

For me, the problem isn’t undocumented immigrants; it’s a Congress that has refused to pass meaningful legislation to weed out criminals and undesirables. We have had no new immigration policy for over thirty years; the last such bill was in 1986. As a result, our country faces out-of-control immigration.

Interestingly, the bipartisan Congress was advancing a forward-thinking immigration policy when 47 told his friends in Congress not to pass it, insinuating that he would handle the matter. In true form for a wannabe dictator, 47 is dealing with the immigration issue with total chaos, injustice, and cruelty.

Our problem is that when we point a finger at undocumented people as the problem, three fingers point back at us, reminding us that we must be putting the wrong people in Congress because they refuse to pass meaningful legislation to address the issues.

Without a steady flow of people from around the world coming into our country with new energy and a pioneering spirit, our crops will not be harvested, our hotels will not be serviced, our homes will not be cleaned, our gardens will not be tended, and we will not have so many caregivers for our children and our seniors.

We won’t have people willing to do the dirty work in restaurants, businesses, hotels, hospitals, and construction, to name a few. We will no longer have them to contribute to Social Security and Medicare, pay taxes, support local businesses, and spend money in an economy that depends on spending.

I hope this stupidity of failing to pass meaningful legislation ends soon, and I look forward to seeing thousands of ICE agents tried in our courts for being domestic terrorists who have spread fear throughout our country. Even I don’t feel safe from the ICE goon squads, who, if I state my objections too loudly, could put me in prison and destroy the rest of my life.

That’s scary!

We have to do more than talk about it. We have to hold large nonviolent demonstrations to show the current administration that this is not how a democracy is run.

What do you think?

PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness

Bil

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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.

 

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash